Vehicle-spring.



P. B. DONAHOO. VEHICLE SPRING. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 9, 1913.

Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

2 sums-sum 1.

NORRIS PETERS CD PHDTO-LITHO" WASHINGTON, D. C.

P. B. DONAHOO.

VEHICLE SPRING.

APPLIOATION FILED S3219, 191s- Patented Feb. 23, 1915.

SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IlI/l/E/VTOR @9 4 60%) 01 Qdi'flwar A TTOR/VEY THE NORRIS PETERS 50.,PHOTO-LITHO, WASHINGTON, D. C.

PETERE. "DONAHOO, OF OAKLAND,CALIFOBINIA.

VEHICLE-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Feb. 23,1915.

Application filed September 9, 1913. Serial No. 788,940.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, PETER B. DONAHOO, acitizen of the United States, residing at Oakland, in the county ofAlameda and State of California, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Vehicle- Springs, of which the following is aspecification.

This invention relates to automobile springs of the helical type and hasfor its object the construction of a spring device using helical springswith the advantages of the elliptical type.

The principal object of my invention is to construct a device whereinthe resiliency of the spring will be proportional to the load.

As is well known, with the present elliptical springs of various forms acar containing a single passenger rides very hard whereas when fullyloaded the riding qualities are considerably improved. With my devicethe first load applied produces a greater deflection than successiveincrements.

Another object is the production of a device wherein the springs may beeasily renewed and the parts conveniently carried.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists in the novelconstruction and arrangement of parts as herein de scribed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein,

Figure 1 is a view in side elevation of a car fitted with the improvedsprings, the front wheel being removed to better show the application.Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation of the spring device with parts insection. Fig. 3 is a view in plan of the same with one of the hingedarms removed. Fig. 4c is a view in section on 4e 1 Fig. 2.

Denoting corresponding parts by the same numerals of reference, 1 is thecar body having the usual longitudinal frame members 2 to which thesprings are attached. The front and rear axles are denoted by 3 and 4and my spring device in general by The latter consists of the arms 6 and7 rigidly connected together by the central portion 8 which is shaped tofit the axle on which it is used. In this case the tubular axle is shownso that asemicircular seat 9 is formed central with the arms, and acorrespondingly shaped clamp plate 10 is employed to fasten the deviceto the axle, these parts being drawn together by bolts 11.

@neach ofthe arms are formed two cylin dricalspringseats 12 and 13 andin practice Iprefer-tomake'the former slightly smaller in diameter. Eachseat is provided'with a threaded removable bottom plug l i'having itwrench socket l5 and the spring retaining Central with portion 8 Iprovide a rib 17 having laterally extending ears 18 to which arepivotally fastened arms 20 and 20. These arms carry cylindrical springseats 21 and 22 similar in shape and in alinement with seats 12 and 13respectively. The bottoms of these seats may be made integral therewithand are provided with spring retaining lugs 23. Interposed between thepairs of spring seats are helical springs 24 and 25, while the arms 20and 2-1 are extended and terminate in heads 26 which are fastened to theframe member 2 by links 27. On sprin seats 22 are provided bosses 28having laterally projecting pins 29 on which is seated a helicalcompression spring 30, which serves to catch the rebound of the car.

The operation of this device is as follows :VVhen the wheel strikes anobstruction, the axle is lifted raising arms 6 and 7 which in turnthrows springs 24 and 25 into compression and spring 30 to expand. Byvarying the length and strength of these springs any desired degree ofresiliency may be obtained. For instance when attached to the car withno passengers therein spring 2 1 may be in compression and 25 normal oreven in tension so that a light load effects only spring 24 but as theload increases the spring 25 comes into play. This action can also behelped out by spring 30 as this spring is in compression under normalcon ditions and acts against spring 24 during the first movementthereof.

Thus it will be seen I have provided an effective device for the purposehereinbefore set forth and it will of course be understood that I do notlimit myself to the exact construction illustrated but wish to includeall such modifications as properly fall within the scope of the annexedclaims.

What I claim as new is 1. In combination with a frame, an axle of aresilient structure secured therebetween. a hub for said structureremovably secured to said axle, horizontally disposed arms provided witha plurality of seats, integral therewith and with said hub, actuatingarms pivotally secured to said hub and frame, and provided With aplurality of seats, helical springs, said seats in alinement and adaptedto receive said springs, a helical spring secured intermediate saidpivoted arms and adapted to retard the upward movement of said arms,substantially as described.

2. A frame and axle in combination with a resilient structure, a rigidhorizontal supporting member secured to said axle, pivoted memberssecured to said axle and frame, resilient means intermediate saidmembers, springs intermediate said mem- Copies of this patent may beobtained for five cents each, by addressin bers and spaced equi-distantfrom the axle, said farthest spring to receive the initial impulse fromsaid frame, said substantially centrally located springs adapted toreceive the subsequent impulse of said frame, and said first mentionedspring adapted to retard the return movement of said springs and frame,substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

PETER B. DONAHOO. Witnesses J. G. Roman, D. H. RoBBn.

g the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0.

